Knife sharpener



Oct. 26, 1937. w, FERREL 2,096,890

KNIFE SHARPENER Filed Aug. 21, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l 'nvenior ff z. jc/warc/ W E B zz'fi Aiiorneys Oct. 26, 1937;

KNIFE SHARPENER E. w. FERREL 2,096,890,

Filed Aug. 21, 1936 s sheets-$116652 I '1 I lg i-l; Inventor \v a W 3/ I Edwai' A itorn eys Oct. 26, 1937. w FERREL 2,096,890

KNIFE SHARPENER Filed Aug. 21, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 X e 7 min-cl 7 on l4 fg Inventor dward W F2171; 2% 6 A iiorqeys Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT one-half to Antonio Ill.

Application August 21,

2 Claims. (01. 51+72) This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in knife Sharpeners, and more particularly to .a sharpener especially adapted for sharpening bread knives of the serrated edge 5 type. V

The principal object of the invention is to provide a knife sharpener which will automatically handle the knife so that the sharpening action will take place at the proper angle and location on the blade.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a sharpening device which restores the shape and point of the serrated edge type knife but which does so without the abrading unit moving along or across the knife while in contact with the same.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a knife sharpener whereby the knife blade will be first automatically centered and then automatically clamped in place as the abrading element is moved toward the blade.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side perspective view of the apparatus; showing the blade being centered by the centering roll;

Figure 2 represents a side perspective view of the apparatus showing the blade in the act of being clamped as the centering roll is moving away;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus showing the knife blade removed and the apparatus detailed in inoperative position;

Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the apparatus showing the blade clamped in position and the rest of the machine in inoperative position;

Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus;

Figure 6 is a full rear perspective view of the apparatus;

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the dog with a portion thereof broken away;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the clamp element. 7

Referring tothe drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 represents the base plate at the rear end of which and secured upon the same is the U-shaped bracket 6. Numerals 1-'| represent elongated arms which extend into the clamp band of the motor for supporting the motor 9.

The motor 9 is provided with the armature shaft T. Machetta, Robinson,

1936, Serial No. 97,268. 7

It on which isthe grinding wheel H. ,"The: rear ends of these arms 1 are 'apertured to receive the pin l2 which is disposedalso through the upstanding legs of the bracket 6; A coiled spring E3 of sufficiently strong tension is provided on I this pin and engages at its ends the arms I so as to normally retain the motor 9 in elevated position. An inverted U-shaped member 14 has the lower portions of its legs secured to the base 5, while its horizontal portion is disposed over the arms I so as to limit the upward movement thereof; 1

The pair of L-shaped members l5 are suitably secured to the base 5 at the rear end thereof and between the upper ends of these L-shaped members l5 the elongated hand bar i6 is pivotally connected as at IT. The pin 18 extends across the arms 'l'-l and a pair of pivotal link members l9 extend from this pin l8 to the hand bar is. Bracket members 29 on the base 5 rockably support the bell crank 2| which at one end is connected by the links 22 to the pin 18. The opposite end of the bell crank 2| is operative in the latch member, 23. This latch member consists of the arm 24 having a ratchet notch 25 in the lower edge thereof and over this is disposed the channeled guide member 26, the same being secured in place by a rivet 21. The upper end of the bell crank rides in this channeled member 26 and is engageable in the ratchet notch 25. V

4 A pair of bracket members 28 on the base 5 have the lower ends of the arms pivotally secured thereto, While the upper ends of these arms are pivotally secured to the latch 23.

A pair of cleats 39-39 are provided on the forward end portion of the base 5 and through the cleats is disposed the pin 3| on which the bell crank 32 is rockable, the upper end of the bell crank 32 being connected by the rod 33 and spring 34 to the. upper end portion of the bell crank 2|. The lower of this bell crank 32 has the de-- pending shank 35 of the vertically slidable clamp plate 36 pivotally secured thereto, this plate operating through the slot in the anvil 31 which 4 is supported in an inclined position. This anvil is of U-shape and has the'lower end portions of its legs secured to the cleats 30. The top face of the anvil 31 is notched out as at 38 so that the centering roller 39 on the upper end portion of the U-shaped carrier 40 will engage the blade 4| and hold the same in positionunder the upper flanged end 42 of the clamp plate 36. This flange 42 is also notched as at 43 to receive the said centering roller 39. A coiled spring 44 on the 55 rod 3| (see Figure 4) engages the U-shaped carriage 40' so as to normally maintain the centering roller 39v at the proper position with respect to the blade 4|. A bail-like member 45 extends from the carriage 40 and connects by a spring 46 to the arm 29 (see Figure 1).

Numeral 47 represents a socket on the base 5 in which a screw 48 is threaded, the same being provided with a jamb nut. This screw can be set so as to limit the downward movement of the motor 9.

It can now be seen in operation, when the lever I6 is started downwardly, motion will be imparted by Way of the links [9 to the bell crank 2| so that by way of the spring 34 and rod 33 the clamp plate 36 will start down toward engagement with the blade 4|. However, in this motion the bell crank 2| has engaged the latch 23 and is pulling the same rearwardly. This in turn pulls on the bail 45 and before the blade 4| has been clamped in place, the carriage 40 has been moved so that the roller 39 thereon has engaged into a serration on the blade 4| 'so as to center the same within the notchway 43 of the clamp plate. V

Further motion of the hand bar It downwardly will cause the latch 23 to move over the pin l8 by its beveled end riding up on the said pin which lifts the latch off of the upper end of the bell crank 2| so that the roller 39 is liberated and returns to the position shown in Figure 2 under the tension of the spring 44, as the flange 42 begins to press against and hold the blade 4| in centered position. Further motion of the hand bar l6 downwardly forces the abrading wheel II to come in contact with the blade and perform the operating action.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size; and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: a

l. A sharpening device comprising a swingable abrading unit, a blade-supporting anvil, a centering device for centering a blade on the anvil, a clamp on the anvil, connection means between the centering device and the clamp and the swingable unit whereby the centering device will be actuated to engage the blade before the clamp has engaged the blade and whereby the clamp engages the blade before the abrading unit engages the blade when the abrading unit is swung downwardly, and spring means for maintaining the abrading unit normally in elevated position.

2. A sharpening device comprising a swingable abrading unit, a blade-supporting anvil, a clamp on the anvil, connection means between the centering device and the clamp and the swingable unit whereby the centering device will be actuated to engage the blade before the clamp has engaged the blade and whereby the clamp engages the blade before the abrading unit engages the blade when the abrading unit is swung downwardly, said abrading unit comprising an electric motor having an armature provided with an abrading wheel, a clamp band disposed around the motor, a pair of arms pivotally supported at their lower ends, and spring means engaging the said arms to normally maintain the motor in elevated position. v

EDWARD W. FERREL. 

